The later revised M-54 which became the Great pre-64 M70 has a different bolt release than the M-54. I have a SuperGrade M54 in .220 Swift also- my late Father bought it in 1938- later sent it to Winchester and they modified the bolt and safety so it has the first series safety found on the M-70 instead of the Mauser-1903 Sringfield "Paddle wing" that interferes with a scope. It has a 26" stainless steel barrel and has had way over 10,00 rounds through it- NO throat erosion or wear on lands and grooves at all-
After he willed it to me I replace the Stith Scope with a Redfield, installed a Timney trigger, and replaced the "crapola- stamped sheet metal trigger guard and floorplate with a forged Blackburn one- duplicates the Model 70--
Now the M54 never had the hinged magazine and floorplate-but as I only load one round at a time in this old "dinger" and only use it for 'chucks, crows, prairie dawgs and fox/coyote marauders-not a problem. A .300 H&H M54 so altered- maybe different as that round is used for different game species and not usually for varmints-But a pal did a "Texas Heart Shot" on a coyote prowling for a lamb chop dinner on the ranch we were hunting in MT a few years ago- Boy Howdy- 180 grainer turned Mister 'Yote into a bloody blob of fur and poop!!
Last edited by Run With The Fox; 08/13/09 09:03 AM.